HONG KONG, Nov. 17 (Xinhua) -- The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government on Sunday denounced smearing remarks and misinformation spread by the so-called "Lai Chee-ying's overseas international legal team" regarding Lai's case involving the national security law in Hong Kong and relevant detention arrangements.
"We noticed the so-called international legal team has repeatedly distorted the truth, blatantly discredited the judicial system and trials of the HKSAR, and fabricated information about the treatment provided to Lai Chee-ying during his custody," said a spokesperson for the HKSAR government, adding that this behavior is completely contrary to the professional ethics that legal practitioners should uphold.
Lai's actual legal representative had recently made a clarification indicating that he is receiving appropriate treatment and care in prison, noted the spokesperson.
It is shocking that the so-called international legal team continues to deliberately publish false information, mislead the United Nations (UN) and abuse its mechanisms, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson clarified that the arrangement for Lai's removal from association from other persons-in-custody has been made at his own request and approved by the Correctional Services Department after considering all relevant factors in accordance with the law all along.
The Basic Law specifically provides that the HKSAR enjoys independent judicial power, including that of final adjudication, and the courts of the HKSAR shall exercise judicial power independently, free from any interference, the spokesperson said.
"We oppose the groundless criticism and conclusion against the HKSAR by the relevant Working Group of the UN based on a series of false and misleading accusations," said the spokesperson, urging the Working Group to perform its duties in a fair and objective manner while respecting the independent judicial power of the HKSAR in order to prevent any abuse of UN mechanisms to interfere in ongoing judicial proceedings in the HKSAR.
